Sasha touch her neck sitting up,she scout the room she was brought to and sniffed,with the decor and faint scent of the room,she could tell it was an hospital ward.
But what shocked her was she doesn't know the real reason she was brought to the hospital,sasha lay back down on the bed,changing her position her heart drop noticing a silhouette of a man.
A figure she recognized as terror stood in the dark beside the parapet of the terrace,he step into the room the light washing him thoroughly,in his hand is a dead woman,her head dangling as he drop her to the ground.
Sasha cover her trembling hand,her throat blocked to the point that she found it difficult to breath,she scrutinize the dead body,it was of a doctor she observed from the coat and glasses and...
"Long time no see ms. Mack"He broke her reverie pushing the panic button in her "It's such a pleasure to finally see you again"
~~~~~~ ~~~~~~
Isabelle glance at xander nervously,the ululation of the crowd only got louder with each passing moment,xander wrap his hand around Isabelle waist taking a step forward with her.
The party has started for her as great with everyone congratulating and taking pictures with them but it started to get suffocating when her big head friend said 'wouldn't it be perfect if the couple sang and kissed',Isabelle could swear she stopped breathing.
She continuously gulp shaking her head for xander to refuse but she forgot Gary is not only the big head guy,xander gladly stood up and swept her off her feet.
"I don't know how to dance"Isabelle squeeze her face,dragging herself back to the present.
"You're not experienced in kissing but you did well minutes ago"
"Kissing is different,dancing is an art"Isabelle face the crowd with fake smile,they settled in their respective seats their face gleaming with anticipation.
"Kissing is an art too,it's not simple to plunge your mouth into someone else mouth and..."he pause taking a deep breath,he open his mouth to continue.
"I get the lecture, thank you"Isabelle intrude,the music starts,xander taunts her with his grin "I'm not perfect"
"Yeah"He cover his mouth to stop the giggle "No one is,but you can try to be at dancing"Isabelle throw daggers at Gary when he wink at her.
"Worst partner on earth"Xander lift her head up with his finger.
"Your eyes should be on me"
"Fixed?Mr Mack I'm freaking out"
"That's why I said your eyes should be on me,I'll take care of it"Isabelle put her hand on his shoulder,they both sway to the music 'At last' by etta.
Isabelle stumble on him,she groan retreating her hand from his shoulder "I'm going to kill Gary,this is embarrassing"
"I'm having fun,it's such a stroke of luck I can dance right now and I couldn't sing"
"You've a raspy voice"
"I sang on your birthday,it's not so bad"Xander place his forehead on hers "Do you like it?"
"I love the color,thanks for involving my mom in all of this,she loved the color green"
"I'm a big fan of her,this is the least I can do,can we talk now?"Isabelle stop.
"We're talking Mr Mack"
"I know but not what I want to talk about"The music stop another take it place.
"Why did you stop?"Gary wrench Isabelle from xander.
"Hey that was...Why are you so irritating?"Isabelle twirl to the beat of "The fighter"by Keith urban and Carrie Underwood,xander stop the two from dancing further with his glare.
"That is so irresponsible,give me back my woman"Xander haul Isabelle to his side,the other couple gathered around the dance floor,dancing with their spouses.
"You are so selfish,Isabelle shouldn't I've a go"Gary pull her back.
"I'm a human,a woman who should be treated with care"The two men frown "I'll dance with grandpa"
"What?"
"You..."The two scoff at each other,Isabelle ignore them walking to grandpa Mack who just stopped dancing with a woman.
She take the hand of grandpa Mack by surprise,he beam "You didn't ask me for a dance"she pout.
"Your husband wouldn't have allowed it"Grandpa Mack bow and stretch his hand "Can I have this dance?"
"Sure"She take his outstretched hand.
"This is death"Isabelle freeze in place "I'm real this time"The jolly voice of her worst nightmare swell in her ear.
____________________
Sasha let her tears fall,her mouth shatter as she try to find a reasonable word to say,the man terrifying face loomed, his scars stretched to another fresh one at the corner of his mouth,he amble to her bed.
"I...I...don't know who you are"sasha said feebly,the man laugh erupt.
"I'm not here to play dumb with you,not today ms. Mack,you've heard a lot about me haven't you?"he bend,recovering from the laughter.
"I...I didn't...see anything...anything..don't hurt me please"
"You are the next one sasha"
"No...Please...no"He lift his knife.
"You've to remain here"
"Triplicate...Please don't kill me"Sasha struggle to get up but she just gets weaker,the man stop in his movement.
"Who told you my name?"Sasha face contort in horror,she gasp at the mental grasp of what she'd done...unknowingly she as dragged Isabelle into it.
"I...I ...heard..heard it from the press"
"Where's Isabelle?"
"I...don't know"Triplicate laugh.
"Minneapolis"sasha blink "What a little liar"
Rick sigh in relief at the news of sasha back in good health,the doctor explained the complications and suggest they let her stay till she gets her strength back.
"I'll go see her,you said there's a doctor with her"Micah burst in.
"Yes,but Ms. Mack is still asleep,any sound can wake her up "The doctor said.
"I'll be quiet"jamie pipe in facing Micah and Rick "I'll be careful"Rick nod taking a seat.
"Go to the changing room,I oblige you to keep it in mind that she needs rest"
"I'll keep that in mind doctor"jamie stride out,she wave at the guards watching sasha ward door,changed and in a mask she motion for the door to be opened,they remain stiff "It's me jamie"
"Your mask"She puff and take it off,getting their confirmation they give her a black card "open the door with it"
"You can do that with your hands" jamie retort, look at card and place it in front of a red button.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Please...don't hurt me" Sasha whimper staring at the knife and shivering at the impact on her skin,Triplicate bring it to her stomach.
"Why do you lie so much?"He pout "i can't help you with that answer, unluckily for Ms Mack,she as to remain here"He plunge it straight into her abdomen.
Jamie step inside and stagger back at the gruesome sight,sasha head fall limply on the bed,triplicate look at jamie,the side of his lips curved.
"Who do we've here?"He smirk and in a jiffy ran to the terrace and leap,jamie screech and scramble to the bed touching the bleeding body part.
The guards at the door rush inside hearing the shrill sound,they both freeze in their footsteps seeing sasha and the doctor bloody body.
"She needs help"jamie said gruffly "get help"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Are you alright?"Grandpa Mack face etch with worry for her and Isabelle heart sank thinking she only make people worry about her.
"I have somethings to do,I'll be back grandpa"she beam "This girl is okay and will always be as long as you're here with her"Grandpa Mack stretch his arm out,she chuckle and hug him.
Isabelle search the room with careworn expression though she didn't hear the chief voice anymore but she's sure he's in the hall,she bump into a middle-aged woman and apologized profusely but the woman grab her hand by surprise dragging her to the terrace.
"Let me go,I apologised"She peel the woman hand but she pull her again "Let go"Isabelle push the woman off,taking hold of her wrist and bending it to her behind.
"I'm sorry for bumping into you,now let me go in peace"Isabelle push her away and the woman turn to air,she clench her jaw 'illusions'her inner voice attest to the truth.
"Jump"Isabelle spun around and eye the terrace "Jump"
"What are you doing here?"She shout in the darkness "How did you get here?"
"Jump"
"I won't"The masked man tap her,shiver ran down Isabelle spine. "What are you doing here?"
"Trust me you'll jump one day" Isabelle turn swiftly taking out her knife and jab him with it,the masked man smirk,staring into her eyes. "Why so upset?"
"I'm going to kill you one day chief"
"Why don't you kill me now?"He taunt.
"You're just a smoke,an illusion"
"I'm real Isabelle,trust me I'm real"he swing the knife away "Who killed Debra?"Isabelle scoff "One last time"
"No matter what you do I won't tell you and before you carry out your stupid plans remember I've Hans and I'm the key to ending your nightmare"
"I'm not ready to kill triplicate"Isabelle giggle.
"Ironic isn't it?you're supposed to be apprehending him but you're trying to catch me...a nobody instead,trip is a serial killer"The masked man wet his lips "You can't catch triplicate without me and I won't help you catch him until you give me back my freedom"
"That's not possible"
"The day I leave here Hans dies,think about it"
"You can't use Hans to save yourself"
"I used you to get out of my tomb,I can use Hans to get out of my grave"Isabelle smile,the other warily look at her.
"Isabelle"The masked man raise a brow at the intrusion his eyes on the intruder as he walks to the terrace "Isabelle"Gary point at his watch when she look at him,she nod wanly.
"Your new bedmate?oops you're married"
"Mind your business chief"Isabelle snap,a growl erupt from his throat.
"How strong is he?"Isabelle turn, icy clutch of dread gripping her.
"Gary is not strong"she reply promptly.
"Oh"the masked man frown and in the blink of an eye he rush to Gary.
"NOOOOOOO"Isabelle scream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Micah sigh as he watch doctor widera explain the cause of the doctor found in sasha ward death,he take his gaze away from the body and fix it on the files on the desk.
"How many minutes apart?"He ask.
"Five,but with the janitor dead body on the last floor I doubt if it wasn't calculated,the killer knew she was assigned to this floor and got the information from her"
"Five people died today and it's all too much to think about,can we talk about this some other time?"Micah utter,the doctor nod portraying a bitter smile.
"I'm so sorry"Micah fight back his tears.
"Thank you"Micah drag his feet out of the office,he'd failed to protect the most important person in his life and that alone made him feel worse crippled with the fact that sasha might not survive the attack.
The guards had raised an alarm shouting at the top of their voice for help,Micah who was still in the doctor office rushed out,he was shocked to see some of them shirt soaked in blood.
"What's going on?"The guards breath hard,their face pale and sunken.
"Ma'am is in the room..."
"I know that"
"She's unconscious...stabbed"The answer frightened Micah out of his wits,looking back now he still wished nothing had happened as he open the door to her ward...the sight of her body which was scar free hours ago now cut thoroughly like she is a chicken that needs to be butchered properly.
Micah sigh sitting beside Jamie,her shoulder shook with sob "I told you,I told you anything could happen,you were too calm"He embrace her,kissing the crown of her head,he glance at the police men staring at him and scowl they look away,Micah turn back to Jamie.
"She's going to be fine"
"How do you know that?"Jamie yell "She's in there with just a little chance of survival,you heard what the doctor said"
"Sasha won't leave me,She won't dare to do that"He reply,jamie stare at him suddenly hating the word 'love'.